Rugiloricus bacatus sp. nov. (Loricifera ‐Pliciloricidae) and a ghost‐larva with paedogenetic reproduction

Abstract

A new species of Loricifera, Rugiloricus bacatus sp. nov. is described together with the diagnoses of two other Rugiloricus species, Rugiloricus sp. nov. A and B, from the Faroe Bank (North Atlantic). Characteristic for all three species is the presence of a new type of reduced larva, a ghost‐larva. This type of reduced larva was discovered in 1986 by Jeanne Renaud‐Mornant, but it was with the Faroe Bank material that it was first discovered that the ghost‐larvae belonged to the phylum Loricifera. The ghost‐larvae are eitherfound inside late instar Higgins‐larvae, called penultimate Higgins‐larvae, or in the sediment. The three types of Higgins‐larvae from the Faroe Bank can be distinguished by characters such as anterior setae, posterior setae and toes. The adults of Rugiloricus bacatus sp. nov. are characterised by a prominent ruff resembling a pearl necklace; two of the eight clavoscalids are modified in the 1st row; the 2nd row of leg‐shaped scalids are very large and robust, and the 9th row with 30 beak‐like scalids alternating with 30 alternating plates. The postlarvae are free‐living and their scalids on the introvert are reduced to protoscalids. Postlarvae and adult stages have not been found for Rugiloricus sp. nov. A and B and therefore only diagnoses of these two species are presented here.     

A new genus of Nanaloricidae (Loricifera) from deep-sea sediments of volcanic origin in the Kilinailau Trench north of Papua New Guinea

A new genus and species of Nanaloricidae (Loricifera), Phoeniciloricus simplidigitatus, is described inhabiting fine sand covered by a layer of volcanic ash at a water depth of 1,813 m in the New Ireland Basin near the Kilinailau Trench (north of Papua New Guinea). The described specimen is a postlarva enclosed in a larval exuvium. This is the first report of a species belonging to the Nanaloricidae from the deep sea. This occurrence is surprising, because Nanaloricidae are typical inhabitants of coarse sands in the intertidal or littoral zone. Preference for these shallow water habitats is reflected in many morphological features which characterize the Nanaloricidae, and are not normally found in Loricifera inhabiting fine-grained, clayish, deep-sea bottoms. The postlarva of the new species is characterized by a long narrow mouth tube, an urn-shaped lorica divided into ten plates, and 13 small lorica spikes. Distinguishing features of the Higgins-larva include short spinose toes lacking mucros but having small and slightly enlarged bases, short scalids on the introvert, many thoracic plates arranged in 6–8 rows, numerous small papillate flosculi in the collar and caudal regions, and three pairs of filiform, short locomotory appendages on the ventral side. Some features of the new species, especially of the Higgins-larva, are discussed as adaptations to the deep-sea environment.Communicated by R.M. Kristensen     

Ultrastructure of the Cuticle of Loricifera and Demonstration of Chitin using Gold-Labelled Wheat Germ Agglutinin

The pharyngeal and lorical cuticles of adult and larval Loricifera were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. LR White sections of larval and adult Loricifera were labelled with the lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) conjugated to colloidal gold. The pharyngeal cuticle of Nanaloricus mysticus exhibits a multilaminate epicuticle and an amorphous basal layer with osmiophilic fibres. The lorical cuticle consists of an osmiophilic or trilaminate epicuticle, one to three amorphous layer(s), and a basal fibrous layer which is strongly labelled by the lectin-gold conjugate. Chitinase treatment or competitive inhibition with N-, N '-, N "-triacetylchitotriose exclude labelling almost completely, whereas competitive inhibition with N -acetyl-D-glucosamine does not affect labelling intensity. The binding of WGA in connection with competition experiments indicates the presence of chitin in the fibrous layer. In most areas of a section, three amorphous layers extend below the epicuticle of the Nanaloricidae. Only in favourably orientated sections can all three "amorphous" layers be seen to be formed by stacks of lamellae. Modified articulation sites with bundles of osmiophilic longitudinal fibres and an osmiophilic plate (Nanaloricidae only) occur in adult Loricifera, but not in the larval stages. The ultrastructure of the lorical cuticle of the Loricifera resembles that of other Nemathelminthes (= Aschelminthes). The morphology of the articulation sites and the number of lorical plates seem to differ between the Loricifera and Priapulida. Therefore, it is currently not possible to conclude whether the lorica of the Loricifera and Priapulida are homologous structures. © 1997 The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.     

Loricifera from the deep sea at the Galápagos Spreading Center,with a description of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spinoloricus turbatio</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov. (Nanaloricidae)

Specimens of a new species of Loricifera, Spinoloricus turbatio gen. et sp. nov., have been collected at the Galápagos Spreading Center (GSC) during the cruise SO 158, which is a part of the MEGAPRINT project. The new genus is positioned in the family Nanaloricidae together with the three already described genera Nanaloricus, Armorloricus and Phoeniciloricus. The postlarvae and adults of Spinoloricus turbatio gen. et sp. nov. are characterized by a mouth cone with eight oral ridges and basally with a cuticular reinforcement named mouth cone pleat; eighth row with 30 whip-like spinoscalids and 30 “alternating” plates; thorax with eight single and seven double trichoscalids, where the single trichoscalids are twice the length of the double ones, and the secondary appendage on the double trichoscalid is smooth whereas the others are serrated; lorica with eight cuticular plates with additional spikes in the anterior corners and intercalary plicae between the plates. Some of these genus-specific characters such as the mouth cone pleat, the “alternating” plates and the intercalary plicae have not been observed in Nanaloricidae before. The Higgins-larvae of Spinoloricus turbatio gen. et sp. nov. are characterized by six rectangular plates in the seventh row with two teeth, an indistinct honeycomb sculpture and long toes with little mucrones. The SO 158 cruise has yielded a minimum of ten new species of Loricifera out of only 42 specimens. These new species belong to two different orders, where one being new to science, and three different families. This result indicates a high diversity of loriciferans at the GSC. Nearly all the collected loriciferans are in a moulting stage, hence there is a new stage inside the present stage. This prolongation of life stages and the occurrence of multiple life stages inside each other are typical of deep-sea loriciferans. Here exemplified by the two postlarvae with adults inside, which is observed for the first time in Nanaloricidae.     

A new type of loriciferan larva (Shira larva) from the deep sea of Shatsky Rise,Pacific Ocean

Loricifera is a phylum of minute animals that live exclusively in marine sediments. A total of 33 species have been described so far in this phylum; however, several more are already known from preliminary observations. Loriciferans are characterised by a complex life cycle, which involves a succession of several adult and larval stages. Here, we describe a new type of loriciferan larval stage: the Shira larva. The gross morphology of this larva is generally similar to that of the most prominent larval type of Loricifera, the so-called Higgins larva. However, the Shira larva possesses a number of unique features, namely (1) a single pair of anteroventral setae is present in the most anterior region of the abdomen, (2) the bases of the anteroventral setae are very large and swollen, (3) the thorax and abdomen are thinner than the introvert and (4) the abdominal region is divided into five sub-regions. Accordingly, we described the new species, Tenuiloricus shirayamai gen. nov. et sp. nov. (incertae sedis). The new findings are discussed from a comparative perspective with the Higgins larva as well as with the fossil of a putative loriciferan larval stage from the Middle Cambrian.     

Successive reduction of the last instar larva of Loricifera, as evidenced by two new species of Pliciloricus from the Great Meteor Seamount (Atlantic Ocean)

Two new species of the genus Pliciloricus Higgins & Kristensen, 1986, are described from coarse sand at the plateau of the Great Meteor Seamount. Together with other species of the genus, Pliciloricus corvus sp. n. and Pliciloricus senicirrus sp. n., demonstrate that the last or seventh instar Higgins-larva can be more and more reduced.

Additionally, in the life cycle of P. corvus sp. n. a simplified adult is discovered which has a simplified body with persisting neck region and a sack-like trunk. The adult of P. corvus sp. n. is characterized, e.g., by 15 broad cross-walls in the clavoscalids, midventral spinoscalids of the second row transformed into a new type of double-organ, a secondary double-organ in the third row of scalids, type B spinoscalids of the fourth row ending in a grappling hook, a crescent-shaped ornamentation of the lorica margin with rounded gaps and protrusions, and a pair of longitudinal cuticular protrusions on the end cone. Distinguishing features of the first to sixth instar Higgins-larvae of P. corvus sp. n. are, e.g., setae of moderate length and long end spines of toes with double bulges. The seventh instar Higgins-larva of P. corvus sp. n. is not fully developed, e.g., the abdominal region is indistinct; the scalids, toes, and all five pairs of setae are clearly shorter than in the preceding instars of Higgins-larvae.

The adult of P. senicirrus sp. n. is characterized, e.g., by clavoscalids with many fine transversal striae, claw-like type B spinoscalids of the fourth row ventrally winged and with seven embedded needle-like teeth, edge of the lorica with 24 small protrusions, and 20 papillate flosculi at caudal end. The Higgins-larva of P. senicirrus sp. n. is characterized, e.g., by the wide and frill-like first section of the mouth cone, the second segment of spinoscalids with ventral serration and double tip, long anterosetae with strong spinules, and by the toes being nearly as long as the short lorica, to name a few. The most obvious feature is the extreme length of the three pairs of posterosetae. The posteroterminal setae are nearly as long as the whole body. The seventh instar Higgins-larva of P. senicirrus sp. n. is not reduced as in the case of P. corvus sp. n.     

The life cycle of Hapladena gymnocephali sp. nov. (Digenea: Haploporidae) from the bald glassy perchlet Ambassis gymnocephalus in Kerala, India

The life cycle of a new haploporid digenean, Hapladena gymnocephali sp. nov., infecting the bald glassy perchlet Ambassis gymnocephalus from the Chaliyar and Kadalundi rivers of Kozhikode district, Kerala, India, is elucidated. The new species is described in detail, its systematic position discussed and compared with related species, H. acanthuri Siddiqi & Cable, 1960 and H. spinosa Manter & Pritchard, 1961. Hapladena gymnocephali is distinctly different from the two latter species in the shape and size of body, nature of testis, extent of vitelline field and excretory bladder. Hapladena gymnocephali has a typical haploporid, two-host life cycle: the gymnocephalous, bi-ocellate, distome cercariae released by the snail Gabbia travancorica are ingested by the fish and develop directly into adults without undergoing a metacercarial stage of development. This is the first report of the genus Hapladena from India, and also the first report of the life cycle of the genus.     

西藏林芝真蚋亚属三新种（双翅目：蚋科）

本文记述西藏林芝真蚋亚属Ｅｕｓｉｍｕｌｉｕｍ三种：凸端真蚋Ｓｉｍｕｌｉｕｍ（Ｅｕｓｉｍｕｌｉｕｍ）ｃｏｎｃａｖｕｓｔｙｌｕｍｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．、林芝真蚋Ｓｉｍｕｌｉｕｍ（Ｅｕｓｉｍｕｌｉｕｍ）ｌｉｎｇｚｉｅｎｓｅｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．、裂缘真蚋Ｓｉｍｕｌｉｕｍ（Ｅｕｓｉｍｕｌｉｕｍ）ｓｃｈｉｚｏｌｏｍｕｎｓｐ．ｎｏｖ 。     

Fissuroderes, a new genus of Kinorhyncha (Cyclorhagida) from the deep sea and continental shelf of New Zealand and from the continental shelf of Costa Rica

Specimens of Kinorhyncha collected by RV Sonne from the continental shelf off the coast of Costa Rica and from the deep sea East of New Zealand as well as by RV Kaharoa in the Firth of Thames are identified as five new species of a new genus Fissuroderes gen. nov. which is distinguished from all other kinorhynch genera by a ring-like cuticle in the first trunk segment and a cuticle with midventral and lateral articulations resulting in two sternal plates and one tergal plate in segments 2-10. Fissuroderes higginsi sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species of Fissuroderes by a laterodorsal spine in segment 2 and the lack of a lateroventral spine in segment 8. Fissuroderes rangi sp. nov. is recognized from all other species by the lack of a ventrolateral spine in segment 2, the lack of a lateroventral spine in segment 5, an extremely elongate spinose tergal extension of segment 11 and a prominent midventral spinose process of the sternal plates in segment 11. Fissuroderes papai sp. nov. is identified by the short spinose process of the sternal plate of segment 11. Only Fissuroderes thermoi sp. nov. possesses bilobed sternal plates in segment 11 and a short conical tergal extension. Fissuroderes novaezealandia sp. nov. differs from F. higginsi sp. nov. in the lack of a laterodorsal spine in segment 2, the lack of an accessory spine in a lateral position in segment 8, the lack of a sublateral spine in segment 10, the existence of a lateroventral spine in segment 8 and in the lack of a subdorsal type 2-gland cell outlet in segment 2. The former species differs from F. papai sp. nov. in the lack of a lateroventral spine in segment 8, the lack of longitudinal indentations in the posterior part of the trunk cuticle of each segment and in the existence of an elongate spinose tergal extension of segment 11 and of many fine hairs on the surface of the cuticle. Fissuroderes is included into the Echinoderidae which is suggested to enclose also the genera Echinoderes and Cephalorhyncha. Echinoderes nybakkeni Higgins, 1988 is now combined as Cephalorhyncha nybakkeni (Higgins, 1988) comb. nov.     

Revision of Rogneda Uljanin, 1870 (Rhabditophora, Eukalyptorhynchia, Polycystididae) with the description of seven new species

A morphological and taxonomical account of the taxon Rogneda is given. A new interpretation of the stylet morphology is presented and a new terminology pertaining to these hard parts is proposed. All known species are discussed and additional information is provided when necessary. Seven new species are described. Five of these are from the Mediterranean: R. colpaerti sp. nov. , R. licyae sp. nov. , R. schaereri sp. nov. , R. valckei sp. nov. and R. vangronsveldi sp. nov . R. verveckeni sp. nov . is from the Atlantic coast of Spain (Galicia). The seventh, R. martensi sp. nov. , is from Indonesia and is the first species of Rogneda to be found outside the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean. All new species can be recognized based on the morphology of the stylets in the male system. A discussion on the similarities and differences of the 22 species is provided, resulting in the grouping of the species into seven morphological groups: the capulata -group, the falcata -group, the hibernica -group, the polyrhabdota -group, the steueri -group, the tripalmata -group and the westbladi -group. R. minuta cannot be placed into any of these groups and therefore stands alone within the taxon. An identification key is provided to facilitate further study of the taxon Rogneda .  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 153 , 1–28.     

Comparative myoanatomy of cycliophoran life cycle stages

The metazoan phylum Cycliophora includes small cryptic epibionts that live attached to the mouthparts of clawed lobsters. The life cycle is complex, with alternating sexual and asexual generations, and involves several sessile and free‐living stages. So far, the morphological and genetic characterization of cycliophorans has been unable to clarify the phylogenetic position of the phylum. In this study, we add new details on the muscular anatomy of the feeding stage, the attached Prometheus larva, the dwarf male, and the female of one of the two hitherto described species, Symbion pandora. The musculature of the feeding stage is composed of myofibers that run longitudinally in the buccal funnel (two fibers) and in the trunk (variable number of fibers). The mouth opening is lined by a myoepithelial ring musculature. A complex myoepithelial sphincter is situated proximal to the anus. In the attached Prometheus larva, three longitudinal sets of myofilaments run dorsally, laterally, and ventrally along the entire anterior‐posterior body axis. The muscular architecture of the dwarf male is complex, especially close to the penis, in the posterior part of the body. An X‐shaped muscle structure is found on the dorsal side, whereas on the ventral side, longitudinal muscles and a V‐shaped muscle structure are present. These muscles are complemented by additional dorsoventral muscles. The mesodermal muscle fibers attach to the cuticle via the epidermis in all life cycle stages studied herein. The musculature of the female is similar to that of the Pandora larva of Symbion americanus and includes dorsoventral muscles and longitudinal muscles that run in the dorsal and ventral body region. Overall, our results reveal striking similarities in the muscular arrangement of the life cycle stages of both Symbion species. J. Morphol., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Systematics of the spider genus Metabus O. P.-Cambridge, 1899 (Araneoidea: Tetragnathidae) with additions to the tetragnathid fauna of Chile and comments on the phylogeny of Tetragnathidae

The spider genus Metabus (Tetragnathidae) previously included nine species: the type M. gravidus O. P.-Cambridge, 1899 – junior synonym of Leucauge ocellata (Keyserling) – from Central America and eight species from Chile. In this paper, the classification of the Metabus species-complex is revised, and two new genera, with three new species and five new combinations, are described. Allende gen. nov. is created for four Chilean species not congeneric with the type of Metabus : the type A. puyehuensis sp. nov. , A. patagiatus (Simon) comb. nov. , A. nigrohumeralis (F. O. P.-Cambridge) comb. nov. and A. longipes (Nicolet) comb. nov. Further additions to the Chilean fauna are under the new genus Mollemeta gen. nov. – created for M. edwardsi (Simon) comb. nov. – and three new species of Chrysometa : C. acinosa sp. nov. , C. levii sp. nov. and C. maitae sp. nov. Metabus now includes four species: M. ocellatus (Keyserling) comb. nov. , M. debilis (O. P.-Cambridge) comb. nov. , M. ebanoverde sp. nov. and M. conacyt sp. nov. All of these species were included in a phylogenetic analysis of 38 tetragnathid and 12 orbicularian outgroup terminals scored for 105 morphological and behavioural characters. The results suggest that Metabus as previously circumscribed is polyphyletic. The phylogenetic relationships within tetragnathids are briefly discussed. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 151 , 285–335.     

Description and proposed life cycle of Maritrema novaezealandensis n. sp. (Microphallidae) parasitic in red-billed gulls, Larus novaehollandiae scopulinus, from Otago Harbor, South Island, New Zealand

Maritrema novaezealandensis n. sp. is described from Otago Harbor, South Island, New Zealand, on the basis of adult specimens collected from the Red-billed gull, Larus novaehollandiae scopulinus, and excysted metacercariae obtained from crabs. It belongs to the "eroliae group" and differs from other related species mainly in the shape, size, and patterns of distributions of the spines on the cirrus, the shape of the metraterm, the presence of an unlobed ovary, and the complete ring of the vitelline follicles. Based on morphometric features of metacercariae and adult specimens, the trophic relationships among invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, experimental infections, and previous reports of species of Maritrema with similar transmission patterns, the life cycle of M. novaezealandensis n. sp. is described. A 3-host life cycle is proposed for this parasite. The first intermediate host is the mud snail, Zeacumantus subcarinatus, in which the cercarial stage is produced in sporocysts located within the gonad of the snail. At least 3 crab species (Hemigrapsus crenulatus, Macrophtalmus hirtipes, and Halicarcinus whitei) and several species of amphipods act as second intermediate hosts, with metacercariae encysted in the body cavity of the crustacean host. Finally, the definitive host, the gull, L. n. scopulinus, harbors the adult worms in its intestine.     

湖北神农架自然保护区一新特蚋种(双翅目,蚋科)(英文)

描记采自湖北神农架自然保护区一蚋属蚋亚属新种,齿端蚋Simulium(Simulium)dentastylum sp.nov..模式标本存于贵阳医学院生物学教研室.     

四川省山蚋亚属一新种记述(双翅目,蚋科)

继作者于2005年首次发现并记述四川省山蚋亚属二新种之后,报道四川省山蚋亚属另1新种,Simulium (Montisimulium)jiajinshanense sp.nov.(夹金山山蚋).本新种与报告自中国的S.(M.)tibetense Deng et al.,1993(西藏山蚋)and S.(M.)moxiense Chen et al.,2005(磨西山蚋),阿塞拜疆的S.(M.)assadovi(Djafarav,1956),亚美尼亚的S.(M.)litshkense(Rubtsov,1947),哈萨克斯坦的S.(M.)quattuordecimfiatliatum(Rubtsov,1947)和塔吉克斯坦的S.(M.)quattuordecimfilum Rubtsov,1947相似,均具14条呼吸丝,但新种可依据食窦弓具中突,两性生殖器的特殊形态,茧简单和呼吸丝特殊分枝等综合特征和上述近缘种相区别.     

贵州蚋科一新种 (双翅目:蚋科)(英文)

本文记述采自贵州雷公山的蚋属一新种 ,以产地命名为黔蚋Simulium (Simulium )qianensesp .nov。新种隶属于杂色蚋组S .variegatumspecies group ,与台湾蚋S .taiwanicum最近似 ,但可依其特殊的盾饰、足的颜色、雄尾中骨端裂和幼虫后颊裂深并在后腹部具附骨等特征与其他近缘种相区别。模式标本存放于贵阳医学院生物教研室。     

The morphology and life cycle of Ophryodendron mysidacii sp. nov. a marine suctorian epibiont on a mysid crustacean

A new species of suctorian protist epibiont of the mysid Schistomysis parkeri is described. The individuals show two types of adult form: elongated and flattened, both with 4-8 tentacular lobes. This new suctorian differs from described species of pro-Ophryodendron group by size, number of tentacular lobes, insertion of the tentacles, union of the lorica with the body, shape of the macronucleus, number of micronuclei and the lack of stalk (adult forms). The life cycle of this species is analysed and a succession pattern of its different stages is proposed.